Closing In

April 22, 1986|By Mike Etzkin

Dale Earnhardt, the first two-time winner on the NASCAR circuit this year, moved 23 points behind Winston Cup points leader Darrell Waltrip with his victory in Sunday's First Union 400. Earnhardt, who captured the Winston Cup title in 1980, has 1,137 points compared with Waltrip's 1,160. Waltrip, who hasn't won a race this year, finished fourth in the First Union 400 race for his seventh top-five finish in as many races. Following the leaders: Rusty Wallace, 1,019; Bill Elliott, 970; Terry Labonte, 948; Kyle Petty, 927; Tim Richmond, 900; Harry Gant, 891; Geoff Bodine, 883; Bobby Allison, 876. Earnhardt also leads the circuit in money-winnings with $328,225, followed by Bodine with $274,455 and Labonte with $212,465.